My Friend Nick

I have a friend named Nick Dupree. Nick has done something very bold. Nick had MD since he was a child, and has grown up in Mobile Alabama with his mom, his grandma and his brother who also has MD. Nick uses a ventilator to breathe and a wheelchair to move around. He also uses the computer, the internet and email to communicate with the outside world. Nick has decided at age 26 to move from Mobile Alabama to New York City. After fighting Medi-Caid and winning, Nick, unlike thousands of others who are vent dependent are required to move into nursing homes because of the high level of care that they need to live. Nick wanted to stay at home and get nursing care In-Home. In most states it's possible, but in Alabama it's not. At the end of August, with nurses treating him really badly, and his mother in bad health, Nick has decided to move into a rehab hospital on a stop before moving into an apartment, and going back to school. Nick's care is expensive, but his mind is priceless. I highly reccommend reading his blog to find out just how determined Nick is.

Nick is on myspace.

http://blog.myspace.com/nickdupree

Yearning for Summer Camp

It is always towards the end of June that I begin to miss Skylake Ranch Camp. This was not just a place for a kid to escape to, and learn and make friends, and all that stuff. For me, today, it has a much deeper meaning. When you are young and have a physical disability, you do not understand the slight actions of people not wanting to hang out with you. Skylake Ranch Camp (SRC) made me feel right at home.

There were never any questions about if I could or could not do something. It was always just "how can we include Nick?" And people would come up with very creative ways to help me to get to the top of a mountain. That is what three counselors allowed me to do. They literally carried my stroller up the 317 feet of steps and mist. I remember when my friends and I finally got to the top. All of a sudden, there was a great peace, and everyone became silent. We looked over the edge, and I remember seeing the whole valley. This was 22 years ago, and these memories are still vivid in my mind, and help me remember that I want to start a summer camp for all to enjoy!

Back From LA

Lots of food, lots of drinks, lots of talk of Grandma, lots of friends and relatives I've never seen before, and I am back from LA.

I even got a new book. Hope you all will follow with comments about blogs to come...

Nick

Friends and Business Don't Mix

(5-29-08)
Well, I never thought it would happen to me, but one of my clients bailed on me within three days of her arrival. I have a friend who is also a client, and they bailed on me three days before they were supposed to arrive and now they are hiding from me. I want to talk to them and know why they did what they did, and what they did. I worry that they won't know what they're getting into until it's too late. I hope they are still my friend, and if not, wtf? I am really concerned because they haven't contacted me, and their parents have. This hurts me, because we have been friends for a long time and even though they don't want to do business with me anymore, I still want to be their friend, but they hide from me, so what can I do?

(5-30-08)
Today, again, I tried to contact my friend, and she is still hiding from me. I didn't know what to expect, that our business relationship would ruin our friendship as well. This hurts me more than anything else. I like my friends, and I don't pass judgment on what they do, or the things that they choose. It's up to them. But this one hurts a lot, because we have been talking every day since February of '06, and our friendship means a lot to me. Maybe time will heal this, but I know that nothing material will ever replace our friendship. This makes me sad, and kind of lonely. I wonder if my friend is safe, and what is going on. I guess the only thing I can do is wait.

Save one for me,

Nick